EU Countries Require Biometric Entry Visas From 1 March, French Envoy Says

The biometric visas henceforth required to go to Europe will come into force as from the 1 March, APA learned from the French embassy in Cote d’Ivoire. “Any person eager to go to France or in one of the European Union countries must have a biometric visa,” Ambassador Andre Janier said.

According to him, the presence of the applicant is required at the embassy or the consulate-general to produce digital pictures and for the person’s fingerprints to be taken.

“Only heads of state, Prime Ministers and under-six-year old children are exempted from this measure adopted by the European Union heads of state in 2004,” the French diplomat continued.

“A personal and individual appearance before the visa issuing office is obligatory as well as when fingerprints are being taken and recorded. Nothing changes for the visa interview appointments, documents and papers required,” he explained.

“Nothing else will change in our general policy of visa delivery.

Nothing will change either in the separate handling of ordinary visas, and diplomatic or service visas which are treated by the embassy and not the consulate,” he concluded.

The only new element he said is that each visa applicant will have to present him/herself personally at the consulate-general or the embassy.

Source African Press Agency

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